So, things went well for me in Zurich (9.95) and Zagreb (9.94). I hope the trend continues. Physically, I feel great and I think it shows...But MAN I'm missing home.

I'm used to being away from home for long stretches...it comes with the territory. And, I'm a grown man. What the heck do I look like being homesick?

Trust me...I've asked myself that quite a few times and I've just decided to give myself a pass.

All that stuff doesn't apply when you're married with a new baby. Yeah, it's sappy, I know. But a wife and a baby girl can do that to you. And what's so crazy is...I'm really not gone that long! I can't imagine what the baseball fathers do. Shoot. Tell me. Give me some pointers! I'm gone three months out of the year and y'all push, what? Eight?

I was doing okay until my wife sent me the most recent pictures of my daughter.

I left for Europe the day before she turned six-weeks old and today is her three-month birthday. I really wasn't tripping (on the outside) because I figured, "hey, she can't miss me if she doesn't know I'm gone." But, I know that I'm gone. Leaving was tough. No lie.

As a matter of fact, I must've looked pretty pitful because when I was standing in the security line at the airport this dude asked me if I was okay.

I'm laughing about it now, but for real, shout out to the nice people in the world - we need more folks like you hanging around.

Anyway, Wifey has been sending me pictures and videos of Kodie just about every day. She's laughing out loud now and doing the baby talk thing. And, from what I can tell, she's developing a little attitude. It's funny because she's so stinking little...too little to be fussing like she does over the phone.

Anyway, like I was saying, my wife sent pictures to me yesterday. And, I probably would have been cool after seeing them, but I just found out that I wouldn't be coming home for a short four-day break...so it kind of tugged at my heart.

My wife thinks Kodie is spoiled now...just wait until I get home.

Yeah, so this is me (attempting to) suck it up. I'm gonna go do some push ups or something and get my mind right. I can't have that little girl getting me wrapped around her finger yet.

Competing after World Championships is sort of like starting football season after the Super Bowl.

When the circuit begins, you leave behind the comforts of the Championships for reality. No more free wireless Internet. No more card games in the hotel lobby. No more catered breakfast, lunch and dinner. No more hospitality suites and snacks. I know. I know. Woe is me.

There’s really nothing else like the European track circuit. It’s European country-hopping at its best – and you learn SO much. The need for a converter, toilet tokens, and a second (or third) language to name a few…

It’s funny because every year there is a group of new athletes who turn pro and cross the pond for their first tour of the European track circuit. I laugh when I see them...all red-eyed and sluggish... because I remember MY first year on the circuit... Man that was a LONG two months

I basically jumped off the plane and into the bed. My eyes burned so badly it felt like I had sand in them. I was so happy when my head hit the pillow! I slept for 5 hours....and it was that good sleep. That kind of sleep that you get after a really good butt whooping - that mouth open, drool on the pillow, wake up with a headache wondering where you are sleep...And, when I did wake up it was 2 am and I was WIDE awake.

I thought I'd watch TV and fall right back asleep. Naw. Not even a little bit.

That night I re-discovered the BBC and learned more about the United States than I could’ve ever wanted to know. You THINK you know what's going on in the world…but you have no idea until you sit down and really listen to another perspective.

Anyway, that morning, I decided to shave and line myself up. You know, look decent for my track meet – it was going to be televised. Well, that was the beginning of a bad day. I blew up my edges – they started smoking and the cord melted – and I shorted out my Playstation. (Yeah, nobody told me about the whole voltage conversion thing). Frustrated, I showered in a shower stall made for a skinny troll and went downstairs for breakfast. This was not the bacon, scrambled eggs and biscuit breakfast you’re picturing. Nothing like IHOP. Breakfast consisted of salmon, watery eggs and stone-hard super dry bread – and orange juice with all the pulp in it. Yeah, tasty, I know.

Lunch wasn’t much better. I asked for a hamburger and that’s exactly what I got – a piece of ham wedged between two slices of bread. The same thing happened when I asked for a cheeseburger – bread and cheese – no meat. Needless to say, at the end of the day, I was sick as a dog and in desperate need of Pepto-Bismol. Yeah, well…it sucks when you’re sick and can’t read the labels at the pharmacy. So yes, I advocate bilingual – even trilingual education. Everyone else speaks two or three languages, why shouldn’t we?

Like I said…that was a LONG two months, and I’m so happy I made it through. Now I pack two converters, and bring my portable DVD player and two week’s worth of movies for down time and airport layovers. I put my bodysuit, spikes, and an extra pair of underwear in my backpack along with my laptop and extra batteries because your trip to Europe isn’t complete until you lose your luggage. I save my Euros for my next trip over because the Euro always seems to trump the dollar (why lose money if you don’t have to?). I keep a calling card, Skype account and a friend with an international phone just in case there is an emergency. And, I make sure I have headphones and blanket and earplugs for the plane ride home. You taking notes?

You learn best when you learn the hard way. Here’s to the first timer’s on the circuit!

Check me out today – I’m competing in the 100M at the Weltklasse Zurich meeting. It will air in the states on NBC this Sunday, August 30 at 12PM. I’m sure it will find its way to YouTube before then though. If I find it, I’ll post it.

Some call me a perpetual optimist, and that’s something that I can claim, but man, the Lord is testing my spirit. I’m pretty good at picking myself up off the floor, but what do you say at a time like this? Two events with the same outcome, all in 12 month’s time. This is the worst kind of déjà vu…

It’s hard to get over this feeling without punching the wall and dropping a few f-bombs. Honestly, that’s how I feel. But, I know none of that will make this feeling that I’m feeling go away.

Rules are rules and we have rules for a reason. I respect the rules and the rule makers.

And, since we’re walking the tight rope of rules, yes, we were disqualified on a technicality.

A technicality that the officials missed. A technicality that the commentators missed. A technicality that the cameras missed. A technicality that required a slow motion, frame-by-frame HD-quality, 10-camera angle booth-style review, an hour after the race was done.

Hey, if that’s what it takes, then so be it. We stepped onto the track ready. We’ve been ready. The fans were waiting. And, now they are the biggest losers. The fans were cheated today. They were cheated out of a race that was a long time coming. And for what? A technicality.

I’ll tell you this. Life teaches the best lessons and I’m learning them – this time, twice over.

I’m angry. I’m frustrated, and I don’t understand how something like this could happen to me – to Team USA – TWICE.

And it’s not that I really don’t understand. I’m not stupid. I was there. I’ve been there.

I guess what I’m saying is… I live to compete. I am a competitor. That means I want to beat you when you’re at your best, and that I’m going to give it my all come hell or high water, no matter what the occasion – EVERY SINGLE TIME. So when things don’t pan out like I expect it, it’s naturally a disappointment. And, I’m still trying to put words to what happened yesterday. Disappointment just doesn’t cut it.

And it’s annoying because you hear so much criticism. Yeah, that’s part of the process – but hear me out.

I think sometimes folks forget that I – WE – represent an entire nation. We wear the United States of America across our chests proudly. We’re representing our mommas, daddies, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, teachers, friends and everyone else who has ever made a difference in our lives – not to mention countless strangers who just love the sport – every time we compete.

Why then would we do anything less than bring the best that we’ve got each and every time we step on the track? I guess I’m “talking” to the folks who will, and always do, dissect our races from the comfort of their living room couches. The ones who had a brother who ran track in high school, or knew someone who knew someone who coached a summer track team once or twice and think they can do me better than me. Every sport has those folks…they bring life to the discussion…and they keep things interesting, but if you’re going to be a real fan, please, don’t dog us. A true fan will never kick their team when they’re down.

Comments and criticism come easily when you’re behind closed doors watching a crowd of 50,000 people instead of standing in front of them. And, I’m not making excuses. That’s what a professional athlete is paid to do. But does that mean we are infallible? Does it mean that we are invincible? Nah, not at all…we’re just human. So just keep that in your back pocket for future reference, and I’ll keep it moving.

Tell me this...what is the FIRST thing you do in the morning when you wake up? The VERY first thing? Chances are you get out of bed and make your way to the bathroom to answer Mother Nature's call, right?

Right.

Now before I go any further, I feel the need to issue a disclaimer for the faint at heart. BE WARNED: this blog makes references to bodily fluids, so if you've got a weak stomach, you may want to check back later!

Now, getting back to what I was saying...

That's what you do when you AREN'T anticipating the possibility that someone will knock at your door requesting a urine sample on demand.

Well today I heard the "knock" at the door, but this time the request was not for urine, but blood.

I, along with twenty or so other athletes were selected for random blood tests in accordance with track and field anti-doping policies.

I was more than happy to oblige.

If that's the price I have to pay to keep our sport clean, so be it. Plus, it's much less intrusive than the more common urine collection process.

I mean think about it.

Would you rather have someone prick your arm and walk away with a band-aid?

OR

Would you prefer to wake up in the morning and do the pee-pee dance so that you'd have a specimen to provide just in case the anti-doping folks came knocking?

AND

Even if you DID do the pee-pee dance so that you'd have a specimen to provide, would you be able to provide it ON DEMAND?

And let me clarify what I mean by ON DEMAND.

That means you do your business - the business you usually do behind closed doors - with someone staring at your nether regions making sure YOU are doing the business. Get the picture?

Yeeeeeeah, I bet that needle prick is sounding a bit more palatable now, huh?

Man, I can't help but laugh right now because drug testing is always awkward.

The folks are extremely nice, very professional and always respectful, but maaaaaaaan, in all the years that I've been drug tested that has NEVER changed the awkward nature of the experience. EVER.

And then when you consider what you have to go through if you get that knock on the door AFTER you've answered nature's call...

Yeeeeah, those nice, professional and respectful drug-testing folks? They're extremely patient too. So just get ready to settle down and drink large gulps of water until you can "go."

Great, I know.

But hey...like I said...if that's the price I have to pay to keep my sport clean, then chug-a-lug...chug-a-lug!

Wow...time flies when you're having fun, or at least that's what they say. Either way you slice it, this has been quite an eventful year. Here's what you've missed over the last few months.

First...

I celebrated my first Father's Day this June. My wife and I welcomed our daughter, Dakota Rae Patton into the world on June 10 - a whole month ahead of schedule. She was a healthy 6lbs 2oz and a whopping 19 inches long. After experiencing my daughter's arrival, I'll just say that I have a newfound respect for childbirth and women in general. My wife is my hero and I'm glad that bringing our daughter into the world was HER job...I'm going to stick to running. But on a more serious note, I’m living life with a new understanding of happiness. I can’t really explain the feeling…the word happy just doesn’t get to the heart of it, but being a father is a phenomenal feeling. And I’ve learned so much...like how to operate on a modified sleep schedule. It is definitely a work in progress, but it feels similar to jet lag. And, I’m a pro at warming up bottles, changing diapers, burping the baby, and all kinds of other things. It’s good stuff…really. Yep, being a Dad is definitely my biggest accomplishment, and my Kodie Bear is the pride and joy of my life. What I do now, I do it all for her. Period.

Secondly…

I finished second at the 2009 USA Track and Field Championships in the 100M. And, if you ask me, making the Team USA track squad is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. Why? Well, maybe I’m a little biased toward my compatriots, but I think we’ve got THE best, most talented sprinters in the world right here in the USA. So, making my sixth national team in the most coveted, highly contested event in track and field for the first time in my career is a bit of a big deal. At least that’s how I see it. Plus, when you consider that I’m 31-years old and an “old man” (according to some) in the sport, I feel doubly good about making the team. And, don’t get it twisted. I’m not soggy about being the 31-year old veteran on the track. The way I see it is, my wheels aren’t squeaking, so I’m still rolling. Anyway, with this year’s achievement I can honestly say that I know what it feels like to stand on the U.S. Championship podium as a first, second and third place finisher. I’ve been a national champion, runner-up and bronze medalist, and each experience has its own special place in my history book.

Thirdly…

I’m in Berlin, Germany preparing to compete in the IAAF World Outdoor Championships for the third time in my career, and I’m excited about it for a couple of reasons. For one, this is my third World Championship team, but it is a first of sorts for Team USA. You see, we have not competed in Berlin at a major international championship since 1936 when Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Olympic Games. How’s that for history…and I’m a part of it. Needless to say, we have to bring our best effort to the track in honor of Jesse’s legacy. And then, when you think about where we were as a nation – as a world – in 1936, and where we are now? We’ve come a LONG way. Now that’s not to say we don’t have a long way to go, but we’ve definitely made progress. And, as an African American athlete, I’m proud to represent the change we’ve made and the change that is yet to come. Plus, I’ll be lining up next to the most talented 100-meter sprinters in the world. It’s a tremendous blessing to be counted among such accomplished athletes. And, yeah it’s my third time around, but competing on this level never gets old. Those guys bring out the best in me, and the adrenaline rush I get always keeps things interesting. Trust me. The 100-meter race will definitely be the race to watch. Anyway, they say the third time’s a charm. I guess we shall see.